Rich People Problems-Kwan 2017 (WWT)

One day, the most senior maid announced, “Mrs. Tay thinks you’re ready. Pack your
belongings—we’re sending you to the Youngs.” It was only then that Ah Ling realized that
her time at the Tay household had been a training ground, and she had passed some sort
of unspecified test. Ah Lan, the junior maid who had been there ten years, said to her,
“You are very lucky. You were born with a pretty face, and you’ve proven yourself good at
polishing silver. So you get to work at the big house now. But don’t let your head get too
big over this!”
Ah Ling had no idea what she meant—she couldn’t imagine a bigger mansion than the
one she was already in. She soon found herself in the passenger seat of the Austin-
Healey, with Mr. Tay at the wheel and Mrs. Tay in the backseat, and she would never
forget that drive. They had entered what seemed like a jungle road, and at a clearing they
pulled up to a grand wrought-iron gate painted light gray. She thought she was dreaming,
to suddenly come upon this strange ornate gate in the middle of nowhere.
A fierce-looking Indian jaga *1 wearing a crisp olive uniform and a bright yellow turban
emerged from the sentry house and scrutinized them closely through the car window
before ceremoniously waving them through the gates. Then they drove up a long winding
gravel lane that had been cut through the thick trees, giving way to an avenue lined with
majestic palm trees, until suddenly the most magnificent building she had ever seen came
into sight. “What is this place?” she had asked, suddenly becoming afraid.
“This is Tyersall Park, the home of Sir James Young. You will be working here from
now on,” Mrs. Tay informed her.
“Is he the governor of Singapore?” Ah Ling asked in awe. She never knew a house could
be this immense…it was like one of the grand old buildings on the Shanghai waterfront
she had once seen on a postcard.
“No, but the Youngs are far more important than the governor.”
“What does Mister…Sir James do?”
“He’s a doctor.”
“I never knew doctors could be so rich.”
“He is a wealthy man, but this house actually belongs to his wife, Su Yi.”
“A lady owns this house?” Ah Ling had never heard of such a thing.
“Yes, she grew up here. It was her grandfather’s house.”
“He was my grandfather too.” Mr. Tay turned to Ah Ling with a smile.
“This is your grandfather’s house? Why are you not living here, then?” Ah Ling asked,
puzzled.
“Aiyah, stop asking so many questions!” Mrs. Tay scolded. “You will learn more about
the family in due course—I’m sure the other servants will fill you in on all the gossip very
fast. You will quickly see that it is Su Yi who rules over everything. Just work very hard
and be sure that you never do anything to upset her and you’ll do fine.”
Ah Ling had done more than fine. Over the next sixty-three years, she rose from being
one of twelve junior maids to become one of the Young family’s most trusted nannies—